Before this period there had been several attempts at settling the NT and the responsibility for law enforcement at these short lived settlements (such as Melville Island, Port Essington) was the military.

The history of the NT police force is one of isolation, hardship, loneliness, violence, heroism, danger, sadness and humour (J R Johns, Patrolling the "Big Up": edited by Darrell Lewis, Historical Society of the Northern Territory, Darwin).

It was for a long time a small force scattered across a large land mass as police stations were slowly established in remote areas of the Territory.

As the police were often the only official government figure in these remote areas, they regularly found themselves doing additional duties such as Clerk of Local Court, District Registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages, Temporary Stock Inspectors and Protector of Aborigines.

As a consequence the records we have relating to the police in the NT are not only an important source of information about law and order issues, they also provide a much broader picture of what was happening in the communities where they were kept.

The series of records listed here may not all be immediately available on open public access. NT Archives staff will advise you about access.

Oral history interviews

One of the strength of the holdings at the NTAS is in the oral history area. The records within this category are listed against the name of the person who has been interviewed.

The interviews are in the format of tapes and transcripts. Copies of many recordings are also available on compact disks (CDs).

The items listed below include interviews of individuals who were employed in the police force in the NT and their spouses. Also included are some interviews where the role of the police in the NT is discussed. The list is not exhaustive.

BIRT, Gordon Robert NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 18Gordon Robert Birt served in the Northern Territory Police Force from 3 July 1929 until he was retired on medical grounds on 31 August 1943. He served in a number of remote locations including Borroloola and Newcastle Waters as well as in Darwin.

BOWIE, Syd NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 440Born in 1914, Syd Bowie grew up in Longreach, Queensland. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Queensland Police Force, he joined the Northern Territory Police Force in Darwin on September 12, 1939. Syd Bowie described the Darwin community and its various ethnic groupings, and detailed Police duties and administrative arrangements up until 1942. He also told of the effect Armed Services personnel had on the town and on police work.

BRIDGLAND, Ray NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 164Ray Bridgland was born in South Australia around 1889. He joined the police force in 1910 and moved to the Territory in 1915. He worked at several remote police stations, but details about most, except for Borroloola and Darwin in 1915 are sketchy at best. He describes the search for survivors of a sunken mail ship in 1924, and the subsequent six month search based at Caledon Bay - all in detail. Ray worked with Aboriginal trackers at the remote stations, and didn't get a car until 1935. His first duties in Darwin in 1915 included the morning mounted patrol.

BROWN, Ron NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 469Born in 1916, Ron Agnew-Brown joined the NT Police in 1939. He describes the rough, hard-drinking Darwin of the time, and the shock and carnage of the early Japanese bombing raids on the town and harbour. After a brief period in the RAAF, he was returned to the NT Police. In 1945 he took over the Finke police district, a huge area south of Alice Springs which stretched over state borders, and was patrolled on camels. He vividly describes some of these patrols, the essential help of Aboriginal trackers, especially on rescue missions, and the scarcity of water, the building of the first airstrip at Finke, and the native and feral animal life of the region. The canvas-mounted camel patrol map he used at the time, with his notations of precious water sites has been donated by Mr Brown, together with a number of photographs, which are referred to in the interview. Refer to personal papers and photographs listings for details.

BURKE, Maurice NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 904Maurice Victor Burke, born February 1946 in Warragul, Victoria. He joined the Northern Territory Police Force in May 1968. He trained as a police officer. Postings included Daly River and Nhulunbuy (Gove) as O.I.C. in Gove, O.I.C. in Prosecutions and Inspector in Darwin, as Divisional Officer in Jabiru, and as Chief Inspector in Alice Springs. The interview focuses on the disastrous floods in Katherine in 1998, when he held the rank of Commander.

DARKEN, Robert NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 188, TS 768Robert Darken was born in 1919, and joined the Northern Territory Police Force in 1938. He was in Darwin when the first Japanese bombing raid occurred. He details preparations which were made prior to the raid, and police work after the raid. Robert Darken comments on Administrator Abbott's reaction to the raid, and the subsequent Royal Commission into the raids. He resigned from the Police Force in 1950, and bought Simpson's Gap Station.

DEANS, Joan NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 776Joan Mary DEANS was born in Yorkshire England in 1920. While serving during World War II with Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service in Britain, she was transferred to the British Hospital at Hearne Bay, NSW. At the end of the war, she took up the option of remaining in Australia for a further two years before returning to Britain. In 1945 she commenced work at the newly constructed Alice Springs Hospital where she met and married Frank 'Tiny' Deans, a member of the Northern Territory Mounted Police. She recalls her varied responsibilities: wife and mother, post mistress, unofficial nurse, hostess for passing dignitaries, and many other duties that fall to the wife of an outback policeman, particularly during the days when horseback patrols meant police often spent long periods away from their stations.

DEVINEY, Hugh NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 190Hugh DEVINEY joined the Territory Police Force in 1928. He served at Ranken, and then Anthony Lagoon. He talks about local Aborigines, Aboriginal trackers, local pastoralists and drovers, communications and horse racing.

DILLON, Cec NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 479Born in 1925 in Lismore NSW, Cec Dillon came to the Territory as a newly recruited policeman in Darwin in 1949. He describes police work, living conditions and lifestyles of the time with gusto and humour, and recalls many amusing incidents and characters. In 1952, he was posted to Alice Springs, and describes the differences in police work and living conditions. he also served in Katherine, and at Daly River at the time of memorable floods in 1957.

FITZER, Eileen NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 207. 588, 695Eileen Fitzer was born in Darwin in 1902. The earliest memories Eileen Fitzer had were of Brocks Creek where her father managed the Zapopan mine until 1909 when the family moved to Darwin. Eileen did her nursing training in Melbourne. From 1932, Eileen Fitzer worked as a nurse at a variety of places. In 1941 Eileen and her first husband left the Territory because of his illness. He died in 1943 and Eileen returned to the Territory. She married Tasman Fitzer in April 1945. Eileen and Tas Fitzer manned the police stations at Daly River and Timber Creek. An 18 month period was also spent at Brocks Creek from 1946.

GIESE, Harry NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 755Born in Western Australia in 1913, Harry GIESE came to the Northern Territory in October 1954 as the Director of Welfare for the Northern Territory Administration. He describes the establishment of police stations in Aboriginal communities, discussed the past roles protectors, the ration stations Aboriginal trackers and families and their relations with Patrol Officers and the role of Patrol Officers.

GORDON, John NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 445John Gordon was born in South Australia in 1919 and joined the Northern Territory Police Force in November 1947. After a period in Darwin, John Gordon served the Force in Tennant Creek and Newcastle Waters, before taking part in a foot patrol through Arnhem Land during the first three months of 1949. Service followed in Timber Creek. Periods were served at Anthony Lagoon, Ranken River, Roper River, and Maranboy, before John Gordon returned to Darwin in 1962. He resigned from the Police Force in 1963. The interview covered the work of a bush station policeman; some of the patrols and cases John Gordon became involved in; his attitude to Aborigines; his views on the organisation of the Police Force; and comments on some of his colleagues.

LEMAIRE, JamesNTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 815James E. Lemaire was born 20 May 1918, in Sydney. He was appointed as a magistrate in the NT and arrived in Alice Springs in 1956. He was interested in common law, litigation and the wide variety of jurisdictions appealed to him. He describes the relationship between the police and the Aborigines from the point of view of a magistrate.

LITTLEJOHN, William (Bill)NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 263, 396Bill Littlejohn was born in New Zealand and joined the Eastern Extension Cable Company back in New Zealand, transferred to Sydney and then to Darwin. After four years with the Company in the Northern Territory, he joined the Police force. In this brief interview he talks about his time in Darwin, the Petrov affair, events after the Japanese air raids on Darwin. Mr Littlejohn was Superintendent of police in the 1950s.

LYNCH, Tony NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 480Tony Lynch was born in Brisbane in 1907 and went to the Northern Territory in 1926. There he worked for Bernhard and Rundle from Katherine, collecting and delivering orders from the workers in the railway construction camps. In 1926, Tony Lynch was asked to join the Northern Territory Police Force which he served until 1941 in Darwin, Timber Creek, Wave Hill, Katherine, Alice Springs, The Granites, Tennant Creek, Barrow Creek, Charlotte Waters and Anthony Lagoon. During his service there were long horse patrols, investigation of illegal selling of alcohol and opium to Aborigines and murder cases. In January 1931 he was involved with the riot of unemployed in Darwin during which Snowy Mahoney was arrested and police and rioters were injured. Whilst based in Alice Springs from January 1932, Tony Lynch undertook North-West camel patrols which covered large and inhospitable tracts of country including the Granites and the Tanami desert

MAHONY, Kath NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 446Kath Mahony was born in Irvinebank, Queensland in 1908. She married a member of the Northern Territory Police Force, Jack Mahony, in October 1934. Her husband served with the police force at Mataranka, Roper River, Arltunga, Alice Springs, Lake Nash and Anthony Lagoon, before retirement from the force in 1952. The interview includes a description of each of these postings, and relations with station people and with the Police Department itself.

MANNION, Nancy NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 89Nancy Mannion came to the Northern Territory in 1936. Her husband Jim Mannion was in the police force. The interview describes police life.

McCAFFERY, Kevin Reginald NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 85Reginald Kevin Mccaffery was born in 1910. He came to the Territory in 1935 as a member of the NT Police Force. He established the Territory branch of the Police Association to fight for better working conditions. For many years he was the police court prosecutor.

McKINNON, Bill NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 88, 384, 789These interviews include recollections of some of Mr McKinnon's contemporaries, and reminiscences about many of his postings with the police force around the Territory since arriving in Alice Springs in 1931.

McLAREN, Bill NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 586Bill McLaren was born in 1916 in Melbourne, and after extensive police experience in Victoria, came to Darwin in 1967 to take up the post of the Northern Territory Police Commissioner. This interview focuses on the events of Cyclone Tracy in December 1974, and its immediate aftermath. Included are his recollections on: emergency procedures pre-cyclone, and the slow process of re-establishment; emergency operations he took part in and directed from the morning after the cyclone. He comments on General Stretton's role, and the necessity for many of the policies followed during the emergency.

McNEIL, Andy NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 973Born in Sydney in 1937, Andy McNeill joined the NT Police in 1959. He held posts in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, retiring as an Assistant Commissioner in 1992 He was subsequently Mayor of Alice Springs from 1992 to 2000.

MOFFLIN, Alfred Charles NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 94Alfred Charles Mofflin was born in East Fremantle, Western Australia, in 1916 He joined the Army in 1935, and was transferred to Darwin in 1938. He joined the Northern Territory Police Force in 1940. He described pre-war Darwin and discussed police activities in the town. Dave Mofflin was one of several police who helped pack items for transfer from Government House. In the second period at Darwin, from 1949 to 1967, Dave Mofflin spent time as the Officer-in-Charge of Darwin Police Station; undertook clerical duties for superintendents of Police, and later the first Commissioner of Police who came from the ranks, Clive Graham. He discussed the changes as the Police Force expanded in numbers and responsibilities.

MOFFLIN, Flo NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 435In 1941, Flo married Dave Mofflin in Darwin, where Dave was a member of the Northern Territory Police Force. She then accompanied him to his various postings with the Police Force. She expresses her views about treatment of staff in the police force.

MULDOON, Phil NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 7602Phil Muldoon came up to Darwin in 1918, by ship from Sydney. He joined the Northern Territory Mounted Police. He recounts his life and working conditions during this time before motorised vehicles were used to patrol the vast areas within the Northern Territory. His story gives a clear insight into the early towns he lived in, the stations and the country he patrolled. At various times he was stationed at Emungalan, Timber Creek, Darwin, Newcastle Waters, Arltunga, Barrow Creek and Alice Springs. He comments that the areas the police patrolled were very large and that policing duties covered many things as well as police work. The police were often required to make coffins, marry people, be the local Clerk of Courts, Protector of Aborigines etc. Mr Muldoon states that at one stage he held sixteen different gazetted appointments. He was appointed Superintendent of Alice Springs Gaol in 1938.

O'MEARA, Warren NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 900Born in 1947 in Victoria, O'Meara joined the NT Police in 1975. He had postings to Alice Springs, Groote Eylandt and Tennant Creek. At the time of interview he was a Superintendent at Katherine, and the interview focuses on the disastrous 1998 floods there.

SELL, Ernest NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 473Ernest Sell was born in Melbourne in 1919. In 1939, he joined the Army and came to Darwin, serving with the artillery units at East Point. In 1941 he was transferred to the NT Police and served for many years in Darwin, Alice Springs, Roper Bar and Timber Creek, and describes camel and horse patrols in the districts where he served. He recalls being lost and then being rescued by an Aboriginal tracker, praises their police work and describes police methods of dealing with Aboriginal offenders.

STOKES, John William (Jack) NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 332John William (Jack) STOKES was born in 1910, and joined the Northern Territory Police Force. He arrived in Darwin in 1937, spent nine months on Elcho Island,. He was posted to Maranboy for four years. There are detailed discussions of this time - his duties. Mr Stokes later served in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Darwin again - a total of 21 years service.

STRETTON, Major General Alan, AO NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 956Alan Bishop Stretton was born in Melbourne, 1922. He recounts his time in Darwin in December 1974, when, as head of the Natural Disasters Organisation, Canberra, he took charge of emergency operations in the city for the crucial few weeks after Cyclone Tracy. Elaborating on his published books, discussion includes the role of the NT and interstate police in Darwin post-Tracy.

TEAGUE, Allan NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 906Born in New-Zealand in 1966 of part Maori background, he came to Australia about age 4, and to the NT in 1988, joining the NT Police in around 1991. The interview focuses on the time of the 1998 floods disaster, when he was sergeant in charge at Daly River.

WAUDBY, Bill NTRS 226 - Oral History Interview TS 698Bill Waudby was born in Adelaide in 1920 and joined the Northern Territory Police Force in 1939. He worked in Darwin until late in 1941 when he was transferred to Tennant Creek. Mr Waudby then joined the Air Force, but returned to the Northern Territory after the war, when he was posted to Katherine. He talks about the differences of police postings in the region. Mr Waudby resigned from the police force in 1947.

Personal papers and photographs

The following is a series listing according to the surname of the person who created or deposited the records with the NT Archives.

The series listed in this category are mostly personal papers and photographs. The collections have often been donated by police officers and their spouses at the time they were interviewed for the oral history collection.

FITZER, Eileen NTRS 1734 - Copies of extracts from letters written by Tas and Eileen Fitzer about police work and life in remote areas of the Northern Territory - 1939-1955

FOELSCHE, Inspector Paul Heinrich Matthias Please note: This collection is included here as P H M Foelsche was Officer in Charge of the first police detachment posted in the Northern Territory. However Foelsche's photographs do not relate to police work. F 399 - Photograph Album of Northern Territory Views - 1870-1888NTRS 234 - Photograph of the entrance to the first government garden near Daly Street, Darwin - 1874

Government organisations

NT Archives Service holds many government record series relating to police activities. Of particular value in the following list are the police stations journals which detail the life of sometimes remote communities.

The records series within this category are listed alphabetically under the title of the government organisation which created the records. Series entries include the control number (NTRS or F), the series title and the date range of the series.

Unless agency is stated to be "Commonwealth" all agencies listed are either Northern Territory Government agencies created since self-government in 1978 or agencies whose title did not alter with the change from Commonwealth to Northern Territory Administration.

Predecessor Agencies which do not have separate listing are recorded chronologically at the start of the listing of their subsequent agency.

F 77 - Correspondence files, annual single number series - 1935-1959 Series notes: Correspondence files maintained for the administration and operation of police activities. The majority of pre-war files are missing presumably destroyed.

F 594 - Portion of list of staff files (police) - alphabetical single number series - 1959?Series notes: One folio divided into columns for file number and name. Entries from A1, Allen to Wilson

F 595 - Staff files (police) - alphabetical single number series - 1950-1959Series notes: These files contain correspondence concerning the appointment, service and termination of police. They were used as shadow files until staff work was undertaken by Police Headquarters.

F 605 - Death files - single number series with 'D' (Death) prefix - 1953-1959F 606 - Mental Defective files - single number series with 'MD' (Mental Defective) prefix - 1953-1959F 607 - Stud book with index - 1909-1963Series notes: The pages in the Index are divided into three printed columns: 1-Name of Horse, 2-Number, 3-Where stationed. The pages in the Stud Book are divided into 10 printed columns: 1-Horse's number, 2-Name, 3- Description, 4-Age when purchased, 5-Height (hands and inches), 6-Amount paid, 7-Date of purchase, 8-From whom purchased, 9-How disposed of, 10-Remarks. From 1909 - 1924 Column 1 was divided into two columns. The first column contained the horse's police number. The second column contained the horse's OSB (Official Stud Book ?) number. The entries in the Stud Book refer to camels and mules as well as horses.

F 619 - Police staff files - unregistered series - 1953-1959Series notes: Correspondence files containing history of service of police staff. Some files are registered with the policeman's registered number.

F 881 - Women police day journals - single number series - 1961-1974Series notes: Minute books which contain a written record of all official activity. Marginal notes are shown to simplify checking

F 882 - Day journals - single number series (records of the Criminal Investigation Branch) 1963-1974F 883 - Day journals (records of the Stock Squad) - 1973-1974F 962 - Correspondence files, multiple number series - 1975-1978F 1040 - Licence files 'HP' (high powered firearm of pistols), single number series (records of the Firearms Registration Branch) - 1967-1980Series notes: Each file contains an application for a permit, a report on the suitability of the applicant to possess a firearm and a permit to purchase or hire a pistol/high powered firearm

F 1053 - Book of forms of information under criminal, police, licensing and other acts with notes thereon - 1917Series notes: This book of 'Forms of information under Criminal, Police, Licensing, and other Acts with Notes thereon' was compiled by A.C. Thomas of the Crown Law Department, South Australia, by Direction of the Attorney-General (Hon. J.H. Vaughan MLC) and published by the Government Printer, Adelaide in 1917 at a cost of 5s. The work was compiled with the object of providing a handy Manual of Forms of Information for assistance of those to whom legal advice may not be readily available. The Acts which are covered in the volume are Criminal Law, Police, Children's Protection, Lotteries and Gaming, Brands, Electoral, District Councils, Municipal Corporations, Places of Public Entertainment, Crown Lands, Indecent Advertisements, Cruelty to Animals, and Licensing.

F 240 - Police journals - 1946-1977F 1323 - Charge books - 1960-1975F 1324 - Radio log books - 1965-1977Series notes: These hand-written volumes contain daily records of radio traffic received or transmitted through the police station radio. Each page is divided into two columns. The left hand column is used to record the time of the traffic, while the right hand column is used to record the details of message and identification of both radio parties.

Agency note: A police station was established at Barrow Creek on 27 February 1926. Except for a brief period (6 Oct.1929-6 Dec.1929) when only one native constable was employed, the station was staffed by 1 constable and 2 native constables: The constables occupied a room at the Telegraph Station until 1930. The Telegraph Station was handed over to the Police Department on 29 September 1930, thus permitting a married constable being stationed there and for the postal business to be undertaken by them (1931) Annual Report). As the policing and other functions increased, subsequent police camps (stations) were opened at Tennant Creek (1935 Annual Report), Hatches Creek and Wauchope (1937/38 Annual Report). The station was closed on 12 December 1945, because it was not in a satisfactory location for police activities and the district was to be policed from Alice Springs.

Agency note: A new station staffed by one constable was opened at Batchelor due to increased activity on the Rum Jungle Uranium mine.

NTRS 1503 - Police journals and miscellaneous volumes - 1954-1968

POLICE STATION - BIRDUM (Commonwealth)

F 293 - Refer to entry under Police Station, Mataranka

POLICE STATION - BORROLOOLA (Commonwealth)

Agency note: From the account given by the Inspector of Police in his Report to the Administrator in 1912, a Police Station was established at Borroloola in November 1886.

F 265 - Inquest book - 1889-1930F 266 - 1) Register of applications for mineral licences - 1888-19032) Registered mining tenements (other than mining leases) - 1908-19213) Record of applications received for mining leases - 1910-1922F 267 - Minute book for Courts of Summary Jurisdiction held at Borroloola - 1925-1948Series notes: As the clerk of the Local Court was ex officio, clerk for courts of summary jurisdiction sittings in the district for which the Local Court was established, the recording of proceedings of the courts of summary jurisdiction was determined by the statutory requirements for maintenance of Local Court records because no provision for these existed in legislation providing for operation of courts of summary jurisdiction. The format of these volumes was determined by the requirement for use of a 'minute book' under Section 26(II) of the Local Court Act ie the minute book contained titles of cases set down for trial, the amounts claimed, the sums (if any) paid into the Court, the judgement of the Court, and the verdict, as the case may be, and names of attorneys and counsel (if any) who appear for the parties. Where examination of witnesses was necessary, transcripts of evidence were also entered in the volume. Where a court of summary jurisdiction sat at any place other than the court house for which a Clerk was appointed, the Justices caused a record of the proceedings to be transmitted to the clerk for the Court to be recorded and kept by him. Obviously the same method of recording ie the 'minute book' was used for recording of these courts. Sittings of the courts of summary jurisdiction were referred to as Police Courts if the cases were heard and determined by Justices, and Magistrate's Courts if the cases were heard and determined by a Special Magistrate. All cases entered in the minute book defined the type of court (Police or Magistrate).

F 1397 - Book of miners' rights - 1889-1891Series notes: Although book was intended for use for business licences it wasactually used for Miner's Rights. The book was registered as Book 4 by Stamp Audit Office SA1 April 1889.Book contained licences 301-400 but only Nos. 301-319 were used. Some copies also had miner's right registration numbers 1/89-2/90.

F 1400 - Certificate of amalgamation - c.1912Series notes: Certificate intended for issue under schedule 13, regulation 75 of contemporary Mining Act although the book was not used.

F 1401 - Certificates of amalgamation of leases - 1912Series notes: The volume was not used. Written on the inside cover is the following 'Book I. Containing 100 forms and numbered 1-100 inclusive issued to the Warden, District B Borroloola' The note is signed by Nicholas Holtze, Government Secretary, 13.4.1912.

F 1402 - Certificates of water rights - 1912

Series notes: The Volume was not used. Written on the inside cover is the following 'Book I. Containing 100 forms and numbered 1-100 inclusive issued to the Warden, District B Borroloola'. The note is signed by Nicholas Holtze, Government Secretary, 13.4.1912.

F 1349 - Day journals (Volume 1 is a Nightcliff Journal 6/8/69-23/11/69) - 1969-1979F 1350 - Correspondence books - 1970-1976Series notes: The books are divided into two sections with an index at the front of each book and numbered pages, 1-127 at the back. The index is arranged alphabetically with each page divided into columns for Name and Subject Page. Each page in the "register" is divided into columns for Progressive Number, Reference No., From and Date, Subject, Minutes, To Whom Sent and Date.

2) Aboriginal licences and permits granted - 1915Series notes: One entry on the last ruled page of volume 1 refers to the issue of a permit for removal of Aborigines from the Northern Territory

3) Record of mining claims registered - 1919Series notes: The record of mining claims is located at pages 372 and 373 of volume 2. The adjacent pages are divided into columns for Certificate of Application and Number Miners Right & Date, Name of Applicant or Applicants, Ground Applied for Mineral or Gold, Situation of claim and Name of Claim, Date of Registration, Exemption Granted or Cancelled, Amalgamation, Forfeiture & Date. The last three columns were not used.

4) Record of mining leases - 1919Series notes: The record of mining leases is located at pages 376 and 377 of volume 2. The adjacent pages are divided into columns for Date of Application, Name of the Reef, Number of Lease, Date on which instrument of lease executed by the lessee, Name of Lessees and addresses, All transfers and transmissions made, All encumbrances and Mortgages, All Exemptions granted or Cancelled, Date of forfeiture if any.

5) Letter book - 1912Series notes: The letter book is located on the last three pages of volume 6 and contains handwritten copies of correspondence received and despatched from the police station.

6) Correspondence relating to death of Aboriginal 'Larry Doolan' - 1939Series notes: This correspondence was originally loose until rebound by the Government Printer, Canberra. It is located at the front of volume 7

7) Case benzine supply at Darwin 1936-1942Series notes: The record of Case Benzine Supplied at Darwin Police Station is located at pages 1-52 of volume 7. Adjacent pages are divided into columns for Received, Date of Issue, To whom Supplied, Signature, Quantity, Remarks.

F 757 - Letter Book - 1905-1920Series notes: The volume contains handwritten copies of correspondence received and despatched from the police station. The subject matter includes general police administration, protection of aboriginals, registration of dogs, collection of public moneys.

POLICE STATION - FREW RIVER (Commonwealth)

F 608 - Mortuary book (also Newcastle Waters and Powell's Creek) - 1893-1951Series notes: Entries are made in printed columns headed: (1) Name of Person (2) Date of Death or when Reported (3) Description of Body, (4) Circumstances attending the decease or finding of the Body, (5) Date of Notice sent to Registrar of Deaths and (7) All information received by the Police

Agency notes: The Annual Report of the Inspector of Police to the Administrator of the Northern Territory in 1912 included a brief historical summary which mentioned that a Police Station was opened at Gordon Creek in May 1894 and was moved to Timber Creek, Victoria River in April 1898 (Commonwealth Parliamentary Papers, Session 1913, vol. III, p. 331)

POLICE STATION - GROOTE EYLANDT (Commonwealth) and Predecessor Agency

1933-1938 : Police Camp - Groote Eylandt

Agency notes: In his Report for the year ended June 1933, the Superintendent of Police in the Northern Territory noted that a police radio set had been installed on Groote Eylandt(1). Five years later, in his report for the year ended June 1938, the Superintendent reported that a new police station had been opened on Groote Eylandt.(2)

Agency notes: From the account given by the Superintendent of Police in the Report on the Administration of the Northern Territory for Year 1937-1938, a Police Station was established at Hatches Creek in 1938.

POLICE STATION - ILLAMURTA (Commonwealth) See also POLICE STATION - FINKE

Agency notes: It appears, that by 1897 constables at Illamurta maintained a police camp until a station of mulga and gums was built by constable Cawel at his own expense. The strength of the station was 1 constable and 3 native constables (Annual Report of the Inspector of Police Darwin, 1911). The station was closed in May 1912, and the constable transferred to Alice Well because Illamurta was too isolated.

POLICE STATION - KATHERINE/EMUNGALEN (Commonwealth)

Agency notes: From the account given by the Inspector of Police in his Report to the Administrator in 1912, a Police Station was established at Katherine in November 1886.

F 291 - 1) Police journal - 1919-19222) Charge book - 1913F 297 - Police journals - 1915-1941F 306 - Minute books for Courts of Summary Jurisdiction - 1902-1954F 615 - 1) Register of names of persons charged with supplying liquor to Aborigines 1907-19142) Register of cattle impounded - 1944Series notes: The book with 'Impounding of Cattle December 26th 1944' written in ink on the front cover has adjacent pages divided into several printed columns: 'Name of Accused', 'Residence', 'Occupation', 'Place where alleged Offence was Committed', 'Date of alleged Offence', 'Date of Hearing', 'Name of Magistrate before whom Charge was heard', 'Result of Inquiry'. Only one page was used for the Register of Names. The next page only is used for the Register of Cattle Impounded which has several columns for: 'Date and Time', 'Description and Number', 'Colour, Brands', 'By Whom Impounded', 'For what Cause', 'Owner'.

F 616 - Register of reported felonies - 1887-1930Series notes: The book has adjacent pages divided into several printed columns:- 'No.', 'Date of Felony', 'Date when Reported to Police', 'Crime, and Property Stolen - from whom (state Christian Name in full) - and where', 'If apprehended, Prisoner's Name in Full', 'By Whom Apprehended', 'Result of Examination', 'Remarks - state whether Property recovered or not, and in whose possession'. Each entry was given a registration number; single number to 1892; annual single number, 1894 - 1898; single number, 1905 - 1909; annual single number, 1911 - 1930

F 618 - Inquest book - 1887-1941Series notes: The book has adjacent pages divided into several printed columns: 'Date of Report', 'Date of Inquest', 'Nature of Inquest - If Deceased Person, give name; or if Fire locality', 'Names of Coroner and Jurors', 'Names of Witnesses', 'Inquest, where held, Verdict', 'Name of Officer getting up Inquest', 'Remarks (giving all information)'. Although the book was designed to cover inquests into deaths and fires all entries relate to deaths. Between 1916 and 1931 the place of burial (either township or cemetery grave number) was written on the page under the deceased person's name.

F 293 - See Entry : Police Station - MatarankaF 295 - Police journals - 1958-1974F 1328 - Correspondence books - 1964-1977Series notes: The books are divided into two sections with an index at the front of each book and numbered pages, 1-127 at the back. The index is arranged alphabetically with each page divided into columns for Name and Subject page. Each page in the "register" is divided into columns for Progressive Number, Reference No., From and Date, Subject, Minutes, To Whom Sent and Date

Agency note: From the account given by the Inspector of Police in his Report to the Administrator in 1917, the Horseshoe Creek Police Station was moved to Maranboy by 1917.

F 290 - Police journals - 1928-1932, 1946-1979F 1047 - Bail book - 1940-1965Series notes: Each page contains a description of the Recognizance and the condition of Recognizance (i.e. the date of appearance at a Court). Each form is signed and dated by a Police Officer.

F 1048 - Minute books for Courts of Summary Jurisdiction - 1934-1969Series notes: The record of proceedings of courts of summary jurisdiction was determined by the statutory requirement for maintenance of Local Court records because no provision existed in legislation providing for operation of Courts of summary jurisdiction. The format of these volumes was determined by the requirement for use for use of a 'minute book' under Section 26(II) of the Local Courts Act i.e. the minute contained titles of cases set down for trial, the amounts claimed, the sums (if any) paid into the Court, the judgement of Court, and the verdict, as the case may be, and the names of attorneys and counsel (if any) who appear for the parties. Sittings of the courts of summary jurisdiction were referred to as Police Courts if the cases were heard and determined by Justices and Magistrate's Court if the cases were heard and determined by a Special Magistrate. All cases entered in the minute books defined the type of court (Police or Magistrate). The volumes contain entries for Maranboy Police Courts held at Katherine, Children's Courts and Coroners Courts.

F 493 - Police journals (also Powell's Creek) - 1913-1952F 530 - Books of Court of Summary Jurisdiction held at Newcastle Waters - 1916-1951Series notes: As the clerk of the Local Court was ex officio, clerk for courts of summary jurisdiction sittings in the district for which the Local Court was established, the recording of proceedings of the courts of summary jurisdiction was determined by the statutory requirements for maintenance of Local Court records because no provision for these records existed in legislation providing for operation of courts of summary jurisdiction. The format of these volumes was determined by the requirement for use of a 'minute book' under Section 26(II) of the Local Court Act ie the minute book contained titles of cases set down for trial, the amounts claimed, the sums (if any) paid into the Court, the judgement of the Court, and the verdict, as the case may be, and names of attorneys and counsel (if any) who appear for the parties. Where examination of witnesses was necessary, transcripts of evidence were also entered in the volume. Where a court of summary jurisdiction sat at any place other than the court house for which a clerk was appointed, the Justices caused a record of the proceedings to be transmitted to the clerk for the Court to be recorded and kept by him. Obviously the same method of recording ie the 'minute book' was used for recording of these courts. Sittings of the courts of summary jurisdiction were referred to as Police Courts if the cases were heard and determined by Justices, and Magistrate's Courts if the cases were heard and determined by a Special Magistrate. All cases entered in the minute book defined the type of court (Police or Magistrate).

F 608 - Mortuary book (also Powell's Creek and Frew River) - 1893-1951F 609 - Portions of charge books for Police Stations at Powell's Creek and Newcastle Waters - 1910-1944Series notes: Each page is divided into two main headings (1) Name of Person Charged and Particulars and (2) How Charge Disposed of. Item (2) is entered by the presiding magistrate with additional entries made by the Clerk of the Local Court

POLICE STATION - NHULUNBUY (Commonwealth and NT)

Agency note: During 1968/69 a Police Station opened at Nhulunbuy in temporary premises. In about 1971, the Station moved from the temporary premises at Gove Airstrip to the new Police Station in the Nhulunbuy township (Report of the Commissioner of Police, 1968/69, p. 3; 1970/71, p.5)

F 1342 - Charge books - 1969-1979F 1343 - Radio log books - 1969-1970F 1344 - C.I.B. (Criminal Investigation Branch) journals - 1972-1975F 1345 - Correspondence books - 1974-1977F 1346 - Day journals - 1976-1979F 1347 - Interview journal - 1977-1979Series notes: A bound volume which contains written details of every person brought into premises as a suspect for questioning or interview. Adjacent pages in the volume are divided into columns for Date, Time of arrival at Station, Name and address of person being interviewed, Member interviewing or in charge, Member accompanying, Reason for interview, Time of departure or arrest, Complaint or remarks, Signature of member checking. At the front of the volume there is an index with each page divided into columns for Number, Name, Member, Date, Subject.

Agency note: From the account given by the Inspector of Police in his Report to the Administrator in 1912, a "police camp" was established at Pine Creek in December 1873. At Pine Creek (Playford) there were local courts and public gaols. Constables of the Northern Territory Police Force were appointed as gaolers, clerks of the local courts etc.

Agency note: During the construction of the North/South railway from the Northern Territory Border to Alice Springs, two constables from South Australia were seconded for service in the N.T. Police Force for the purpose of patrolling the construction camps along the line. Their main tasks were suppression of sly grog selling and removal of natives from the vicinity of the Camps. The first camp, established by the two constables on 1 Aug.1928, was situated between Finke River and the N.T. Border. There were subsequent moves to Finke River, Depot Sandhills and Rumbalara. The site of the police camp was dependent on the location of the Platelayers Camp.

Agency note: The South Australian Commissioner of Police mentioned in this report for 1888/89 that Police Stations had been opened at Roper River and Powell's Creek on the principal overland routes from Queensland and that the opening of these stations was a great check upon the horse and cattle stealers in the tableland. The Police Station appears to have been staffed by a Mounted Constable and a Native Constable until 1913, when the Police Station was closed and the Mounted Constable was transferred to open a Police Station at Newcastle Waters (CA 1230).

Agency note: The Station located in the Southern Division was opened in June 1959 (Report of the Northern Territory, 1958/59. p. 11)

F 1335 - Police journals - 1959-1977

POLICE STATION - TIMBER CREEK (Commonwealth) and Predecessor Agency

1894-1898 : Police Station - Gordon Creek

F 302 - Police journals - 1894-1977F 720 - Letter book - 1927-1929F 721 - 1) Portion of warrant book - 1920-19292) Firearms registration book - 1945-19473) Account book - 1920-1930Series notes: This volume was designed for use as a warrant book with adjacent pages in the book divided into printed columns for Date of Warrant; By Whom Issued; Offence; By Whom and Where executed; Date of Execution; Remarks. As the book is titled 'Police Station, Gordon's Creek Warrant Book' and several front pages are loose in the book, it is assumed that portion of the book has been lost. That part of the volume which is used as a firearms registration book is located at the front part of the volume. Adjacent pages have been divided into columns for Name of Owner; Address; Make & Number; Kind of Firearm; Calibre; Magazine or Chamber Capacity; Number of Certificate; Date Registered; Date Expires; Remarks. The Account book is located at the back of the volume. Adjacent pages have been divided into columns for Date; Name; Particulars of Account; To Whom Sent; Date Account Forwarded; Amount; Date of Payment; To Whom and Where Paid.

F 722 - Portions of charge books - 1925-1961F 1426 - Register of police horses and mules - 1935-1957Series notes: An annual stock take containing ages and descriptions of all horses at Timber Creek Police Station. Adjacent pages in the volume are divided into columns for Name of Horse; No. of Horse, Brand, Dam, Colour, Sex, Saddle or Pack, Description and other Marks.